Five Overrated Prospects in the 2010 NFL Draft

1. Bruce Campbell, LT – Maryland – His star isn’t shining quite as brightly as it was right after the combine, but Campbell has no business going in the top 20 and if the Raiders end up taking him at #8, that will be a much worse pick than Heyward-Bey last season. Campbell is a classic “workout warrior” who has third-round talent but will be drafted on the physical potential rather than the game tape.

2. Chris Cook, CB, Virginia – His size (6’2 / 212) and his speed (4.45) should be enough to get teams excited, and it is getting teams excited. At least some teams. However, when I watch Cook, I see a big guy who does not play to his size in run support, who plays a ton of off-man coverage and who doesn’t show a great ability to defend against WRs who are quick out of their breaks. Cook plays like a 3rd rounder with 1st round athleticism.

3. Colt McCoy, QB, Texas – Sorry Horn fans, but it is what it is. McCoy offers below average size and an average to below average arm. While his athleticism is much better than the numbers he posted at the combine, McCoy is way too eager to check down to the safest options when he faces the better defenses out there. While accuracy is admirable, it is much tougher to be accurate in the NFL once teams have the book on you that you won’t look down the field when they pressure you. I think Colt is a 3rd rounder and not a borderline 1st / early 2nd.

4. Everson Griffen, DE, USC – Griffen simply doesn’t dominate games the way he should with his strength and speed. A former, RB, Griffen tested out great in all the athletic categories, but I can’t figure out why he doesn’t wreck shop on a more consistent basis on the field. If you put Brandon Graham in Griffen’s body, you would have a top 5 player for sure and that is ultimately what makes Griffen an overrated prospect.

5. Jason Pierre-Paul, DE, South Florida – Let’s make sure I clarify this one. I think Pierre-Paul has a chance to be a very good NFL player, but at this time, he is being drafted on potential more than what he’s been able to do over the course of his career. Anytime you have a player who has been a “one year wonder” you have to be careful with how high you draft players like that and Pierre-Paul’s draft stock seems to be riding higher than it probably should be. The physical tools are there, but let’s see it for longer than a year (signed, George Selvie).